Loncin 300cc

[MJH]

Loncin is offering a 300cc water cooled engine, it appears to be their version of the once KLX 300R Kawasaki engine. These can be found in the markets as a CCM and Puzey, as both are utilizing the engines.

The engine code is LC178MN.


CCM XTR-4 300


CCM has a new model, its called the GP450 CCM is sourcing that engine from BMW, the BMW 450X. The link above will take you to the new offering.


Puzey XTR-4 300


KLX300R

[MJH]

These models are being reverse engineered in South Africa, they are pretty much identical copies of the Kawasaki models.

According to the Puzey website that states the following:

The XTR-4 is an innovative product designed and produced right here in South Africa. All the RND and development is carried out in Africa over some of the toughest terrain in the world ensuring the product will meet the market requirements in any country.

[MJH]

Kawasaki to Partner with Loncin Motor on Motorcycle Business in China....June 1,2012

"The recent economic growth in China, the largest motorcycle market in the world, has resulted in a diversification of personal tastes and interests among its consumers. It is expected that this trend will lead to a growing number of Chinese customers who purchase motorcycles for recreational purposes—the segment mainly targeted by Kawasaki. In this market environment, Kawasaki will leverage Loncin's domestic sales network and cost competitiveness to reach a wide customer base in China with its high-quality, high-value-added motorcycles."

[MJH]

Here is some blabber about the LOI in Chinglish…..

[zhu]

that article is typically verbose
but hardly chinglish

we know this because there is not one mention of glorious cabbage

[euphonius]

What's more, it's a pretty damned important development if Kawasaki, with Loncin, is really taking the lead on developing a consumer/recreational market strategy for China. They'd be the first among the Japanese majors to do this. Harley-Davidson and Ducati are kind of here already, but not doing native or JV development. Honda and Suzuki and Yamaha are all present at the cabbage bike end, and Suzuki has taken a page from H-D and Ducati by coming in with their premium (and suicidal) Hayabusa. We hear Triumph is nibbling at China's edges with the possibility of Thailand-assembled models, which presumably would enter China with friendlier ASEAN import tariffs.

But if Kawasaki thinks it's worthwhile to come in and jointly manufacture or license its midtier bikes in China, it's a major shift. I think they'll find a ready and growing market -- if the prices are friendly. The Ninja is an established brand, and there are plenty of them blasting around in China, albeit mostly without legal plates. Not sure how the big Vulcan cruisers would do, but a Loncin JV version would easily undersell Harley. The Versys would aim for the same mid-displacement sweet spot that CFMoto/Chunfeng and Qianjiang/Benelli (and hapless Jialing) are targeting with their new "international" models. And would it be too much to hope that Kawasaki could squeeze another decade or two out of the timeless KLR650? I'd be thrilled!

Needless to say, they'll have to win back market share from Yamasaki....

Actually, this Kawasaki-Loncin deal deserves its own thread.

cheers